PM Shehbaz says trilateral defence pact not aimed at aggression

• Pact continues decades-long cooperation between nations.
• PM highlights duty to protect Haramain Sharifain.
• Shehbaz hails sacrifices in fight against terrorism.
  

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the trilateral defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye is not aimed at aggression against any country.

Addressing federal cabinet meeting on Monday, the prime minister said that the agreement signed in Makkah between the three countries is aimed at promoting peace, security and prosperity in the region, the prime minister said.

PM Shehbaz said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had also signed a defence agreement last year, while Pakistan and Turkiye had maintained decades-long cooperation.

The prime minister made the remarks days after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the joint defence pact on Friday, establishing a collective security framework that considers an armed attack against any member state as an attack against all three countries.

The agreement was signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence, attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and the Turkish president on Friday.

The prime minister said the trilateral defence pact is a continuation of the existing cooperation among the three countries. He said protecting the Haramain Sharifain is an important responsibility for the people and armed forces of Pakistan.

He said the agreement would strengthen the entire Muslim Ummah.

In an earlier statement, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar said that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement remains open to countries willing to uphold its core principles, stressing that the pact is defensive in nature and aimed at promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the wider region.

In a statement posted on X, DPM Dar said the agreement, the Makkah Accord, reflected the deep-rooted brotherly ties among the three countries and was the result of years of discussions and coordination to strengthen strategic cooperation in addressing shared peace and security challenges.

‘AJK elections results reflect public’s confidence in Nawaz Sharif’

Commenting on the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, PM Shehbaz said the people had expressed their confidence in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

He said the PML-N had secured victories in the first two phases of the elections, adding that the results reflected the public’s confidence in party supremo Nawaz Sharif.

He thanked the people of Azad Kashmir for expressing their confidence in the party.

The prime minister said that certain elements had deliberately attempted to disrupt the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, stressing that problems should be resolved through dialogue.

Speaking on terrorism, PM Shehbaz said that the scourge of terrorism would once again be eliminated from the country. He paid tribute to the brave soldiers who had made great sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.